Method and apparatus for producing bodies formed of separate fibers



May l1 1926. 1,584,386 H; B. LINDSAY METHOD AND APPARATUS Foa- PRoDucING Booms FoRuED oF SEPARATE FIBERs' Filed Ja'n. 12, V1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 z5' 0 4 5 May 1l 1926. 1,584,386

H. B. LINDSAY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BODIES FORMED OF SEPARATE FIBERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 11 192e. 1,5842386 H. B. LINDSAY METHOD AND APPARATUS ,FORTRODUCING BODIES FORMED OF SEPARATE FIBERS Filed Jan. l2, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet .3

May ll H. B. LINDSAY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BODIES- FORMED OF SEPARATE FIBERS 1925 4 man-sheet 4 l Filed Jan. 12

Patented May I11,1926.

' UNiTEo STA HARVEY D. LINDSAY,

. TIoN, or WILMINGToN, L,

METHOD AND APPARATUS EoR PRQDUGING BODIES .EORMED or SEPARATE EIRERS.

lApplit'zation' Afiled. January My mvention, as to one aspect thereof, relates to the production of bodies of thermal insulating material formed of separate fibers, such as, and more particularly, ka ok fibers, which are of tubular form, With t ieir fibers 'so arranged as to provide maximu'mefiiciencyanother aspect thereof to' the production of `cushioning bodies or structures, suchA as bedding stery, the filling of which is formed of separate fibers. y

As a preface to the following description, it should be. stated that I have discovered th-at the more nearly at right angles to or across 'the line of heat transmission the fibers of the body of insulating materia-l. are laid and the nearer the approach to a con. -dition in which the fibers are spaced from each other a microscopic distance, the great'- cr the efficiency of a given thickness of insulat-ing body, and this 'is particularly true of a body composed of fibers the surfaces of which present a high degree of smoothness, as for example, in thecase of kapok.

According to my demonstrated theory of thermal insulation, transmission of heat through a body composed of separate fibers is principally governed by the degree of microscopic smoothness ofthose surfaces of the fibers which extend transversely'orf-'the path of heat transmission and thel proximity of the surfaces of the fibers to each other but with minimum contact. This is due to the ac tion which takes place in such a body'wheree in the external surfaces of the fibers, as also the internal surfaces thereof when of tubu- .lar form, are subject to the bombardment of the rapidly moving gaseous atoms Wheresthe insulating material is subjected to heat traversing the air to which the fibers are exposed. These gaseous atoms being heated 4`their 4external electrons are under violentagitation and transmit, through such agitation, violent agitation to the external electrons of t-he molecules of the fibers proportional to the length of time they are 1n con,

ytact with the latter, and the converse is true Where the fibers are in heated condition, in.v

` which case the external electrons of the molecules of the fibers -arel 1n violent-agitation y and transmit such agitation to the elenctronsofthe gaseous atoms proportional to as an insulating'medium; andas to,v

mattresses, carpet cushions and upholf TES PATENT 'oi-Fica 0E OAKLAND,v CALIFORNIA, AssIGNoR To DRY zERo CORPORA- IDELAWARE, A CORPORATION 0E DELAWARE j' 12, i925. serii No. 18'27.

the length of time the electrons .of IIlQiQ- There the surfaces of the fibersare relaz= tively rough and thereforel present micro- `scopic` crevlces, depressions or projections, the gaseous atoms bound and rebound f against the surfaces of such irregularities before escaping, and with each impingement the agitated electrons of the hotter element reacton the relatively quiescent electrons of the lcooler element, conveying their excess agitation to the latter and thereby transmitting heat. Thus, the smoother the sur-` faces of the fibers the less the rebounding of the moving electrons and consequently the less transmission of heat. It is, therefore, desirable to employ .smooth-surfaced fibers, and, in order that the maximum resistance to travel of the heat throughout the mass be effected, to so position the fibers that they will lie as nearly parallel to each other and transverse to the line of heatl transmission y as possibley'and-yet present the minimum of points of actual contactyvith each other, the ideal arrangement being that in which the fibers are out of contact and are spaced apart a microscopic distance and lie transverse to the -line of heat transmission. Furthermore,l

itis desirable that the fibers be as free as possible of kinks or fractures, as such tend to reduce the resilience and life of the insulating body composed of the fibers.

Furthermore, in cushioning structures or bodies, the filling of which iscomposed of separate fibers, such as bedding mattresses, carpet cushions and upholstery, the disposition of the fibers vrelative to each other de- ;.termine the lasting quality of the structure,

the vgreater the amount of interlocking or interlacing of the fibers when bent at sharp angles, thev shorter the life of the cushioning structure. This is due to the fact that in the alternate compression and release of the fibers, in the use of the structure, the fibers,

being sharply bent at their interlocked or interlaced points, Will inevitably break at those points ythus Qreducing short shattered pieces no longer having the resilience of the Whole tube or fiber. Whereas, when .disposed y as above described the breaking of the fiber is almost` entirely elimthe body to a mass of inated as the alternate compression and re, fiber from which the noo'y is to be formed, lease of the cushioning structure in use`does to such an action that the fibers thereof will not bend the fibers back and forth at a short be loosened from each other at the outer surdangle. face of the bale fors movement to the part of 6 Myl objects generallyfstated, are to pro-D the a paratus in which the body to pro- 70 videa body composed of relatively unbroken duce 1s formed' and without tearing orseparate fibers of insulating material, and breaklng the fibers. The dev1ce15 wh1chop' l more especially fibers presenting smooth surerates by a tumbling action comprises a tumfaces, as forex-ample, ka ok, which will prebler drum 16 shown asof cylindrical form -10 sent a higher degree o resistance to heat mounted "at circular, ircumferentially dis- 75 transmission therethroughthan in the ca se J posed tracks 17 thereomon rollers 18 jourof insulating bodies as hithertor provided, naled in spaced relat1on on -a .supporti/ng and presentlng the same density, viz, the frame i9, the drum 16 belng driven many same number of pounds per cubic foot, theresuitable manner, as for example through the 1.5 vby economizing in the amount of fiber used medlum of a belt 20 drlven from any suxta- 30 and reducing the thickness of body required. ble source. U l Another object is to provide a cushlomng The drum 1s provided about lts 1n ner surstructure or body of such construction that face with a plurality of baffle formmg ribs the resilience of the structure or body will be 2l which extend lengthwise of the drum in 20 greatly prolonged, l f preferably substantially equidistantly spaced 85 Another object is to provide a n ovel methrelation, as shown (Fig. 4). The ends 22 od of forming a body of the character stated, and 23 of the drum contain centrally-disto the end that the Vfibers in unimpaired conposed openings 24 and 25, respectively, the dition will be caused to extend generally in openlng 24, in the particular arrangement the same direction as 'compared with the inshown communlcating with the atmosphere,` 90' terlocked and inferlaced condition presented serving to permit of flow of air into the 4 by such bodies, as hitherto produced. 'drum through this end thereof under the Another object is to provlde for the proactlon' of suction applied to the opening 25, ductionof such a body in quilted or matas hereinafter described, and producing air 0 tressed condition. f v currents in the drum' which entrain the sepa- 95 Another object is to provide apparatus for rated fibers and conduct them out of theA accomplishing the results just stated, and drum. The drum is preferably several times especially where the body is to be in the form as long 'as a baleof the material to be opof a quilted or mattressed structure. erated uponI and contains at its outlet end Referring to the accompanying drawings: open-work barriers represented generally 19 Figure 1 is a. plan view,w1th certain porat 26 spaced-apart lengthwise of the drum,

" tions omitted, of' an apparatus constructed each of these barriers being shown as formed in accordance with my invention and adaptof two generally triangular portions 27 and ed for the practicing of my improved metharranged relative to each other as shown 40 od. l Figure 1n is a broken, enlarged sectional 1n Fig. 4, these barriers serving tol prevent 1954 view of a detail of the apparatus, the section the bale or heavy masses of the fibers from being taken at the line *l* on Fig.,1 and moving in the drum to a position in which viewed inAthe direction df the arrow. -Fig-- they interfere with the desired freedom of ure 1 b is a similarview of the detail of the movement of the air, and the fibersentrained l 5 apparatus, the section being taken at the therein, through the'outlet25. The outlet 110 A line 1h dn- Fig. 1` and/viewed in the direction 25 communicates, through the medium of of the arrow. Figure 2 is `a view in. side e1e. a revolving joint conduit 29, with the inlet vation of the apparatus shown inthe precedof a Suction blower represented at 30 which ing figures. Figure -3 is a section taken at may be of anydesirable construction as bv the line 3 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direcway of example of the centrifugal type, the 115 tion of the arrow. Figure 4 isa section conduit 29 -being provided with a valve-31 taken at the line 4 -on Fig. 1 and viewed' in for regulating the flow of a'ir currents therethe direction of the arrow. Figure 5 isy a through. The outlet of the blower 30 andplan sectional view of the tumbler device` shown--generally Aat 32 communicates with forming a part of the -apparatus. Figure 6- the lower` inlet ,oa chamber 33 the outlet' of 12 is a section taken at-the line- 6 on Fig. 1 and which,at vthe upper portion thereof in its opviewed in the direction ofthe arrow. Figposite wall is represented at 34. The cham` ure? is a broken' section taken at the line-7 er 33 which lis provided primarily for the on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the purpose of settling out from the fiber couv Y arrow; and Figure. 8, a -broken,perspective, `ducted into it such heavy formed particles 1,2 5'

view of the b dy or structure pgoduced by as maybe contained therein as well as any a the apparatus. masses of intcrlocked or. intertwistcd fibers@` 'f .Referring to the particular illustrated apis :provided with a sliding lplate-valve 35*-` paratus, it comprises a device,A represented which regulates the' flowy of air andl fibers generally at 15, or subjectingv the bale of tlrough ther-.using 33. The outlet 34whichfu"i and concentrically form flow of the fiber to the former-device, hereinafter described, comprrses a cylindrb cal housing 39 containing openings 40 and 4l in its circumferential side-wall which extend substantially the full length of the latter and form an inlet and an outlet, respectively, for the housing't-he inlet 4() communicating with the conduit 36. By preference there is located within the housing 39 disposed relative to the latter and in spaced relation thereto, an inner shell 42 provided with aninlet and an outlet 43 and 44, respectively, which extend substantially the full length of the shelland in registration with the inlet and outlet and 41, respectively, of the housing 89. The housing 39 and shell 42 are` supported at theirends on a shaft 45 fixed in the upper ends of stationary brackets one of which ,is represented at 46, the ends of the shell 42 being secured to the shaft 46 as by set screws, as shown of the set screwsA 47 in Fig. 7. The measuring device also comprises a rotatable interstitial drum structure represented gen erally at 48 and-located within the annular space between the shell 42. and the housing 89, vthe device 48 comprising a cylindrical side-wall-forming portion 49 of interstitial form, it being preferably formed of wire mesh. The ends of the drum 48 comprise rings 50 connected, and extending concentrically, with the. cylindrical portion 49 of the drum outwardly beyond the `portion 49 and being connected with the outer endsy of spokes 5l connected with hub portions 52 rotatably mounted on the ends of the shaft 45 between the end walls of the shell 42 and the end walls of the housing 39. One of the hub portions 52/mis shown as provided with a pulley 58 driven from any suitable source, and through the medium of which the` drum structure 48 is rotated in the direction of the arrow `in` Fig. 6. The hubs 52 extend tween the Shaft 45'andlopenings 39* in the ends of the housing of the structure in Fig. 7, andV means, rep-- resented at 54, are provided for rigidly connecting the housing 39 tothe brackets 46. The drum structure 48 also-comprises a plui rality of'radially-dis'posed parallel fins7 49L provided in a series about the circumference of the side-wall portion 49 and extending within the spacedefined by the side walls of the housing 89 and drum-portion 49.'and the rings 50, these tins which extend parallel with the axis of the drum portion 49 and are preferably equidistantly spaced apart and lt will be'noted from mensions of the former 48,'these'rings projecting radially 39 as shown of one end extend from one ring 50 .to the other thereof and close to the inner circumference of the sidewall of the housing 39, being prefer-l ably of interstitial form, preferably of wire mesh construction. l i 1 the-foregoing that power applied to the pulley 53 ,causes the interstitial drum structure 48 to' be rotated thereby causing the several compartments providedy about the circumference of the drum device48 Ato be moved in succession across the paths traversed by the air currents entering shell 42 from the conduit 86 and leaving the shell 42 at its outlet v44;, and that the volume of fiber (carried by said air current-s) which will be discharged from this device, can be governed by the speed of rotation of the drum.rv

The outlet 41 of the measuring device communicates with the inlet of -a conduit 55 the outletend of which, and forming a noz- Zle extends loosely` into the former, herein'- before referred to, and represented at 56.

The outlet portion of the nozzle 55isiof general rectangular shape in cross :section with its side walls, represented at 57preferably extending entirely through the former 56 which is cross section; lx'llhe upper and lowerl walls 58 and 59, respectively, of the nozzle'reach short of ,lthe out-er ends of the walls 57 and .terminate al short distance Abeyond the exe tremeV forward edge of the' former 56, as,

shown in Fig'. 1b. 'In othelr wor ls, the upper and lower wallsof the former 5 overlap the corresponding walls of the nozzle and extend in spaced relation thereto 4as shown in said figure. The 'inside cross Asectional di- 56 are greater than the outside cross sectional dimensions of the nozzle- 55, the walls of which latter extend, throughout the portions' thereof' which exand sel

likewise of rectangular shape.v in:

leo

'tend into the former', out of contact with' the latter as clearly shown in Figs. 1il

l", the spaces thus' provided between the end.

walls 57 of the, nozzle and the end walls n of the-former, and represented at 460, being indicated atk 61.

Associated ivvith means for supporting rolls 62 of covering material, as for example, and vpreferably cloth fabric, to be'positioned at opposite sidesi of the fiberv bodyproduced in the formerv 56, these means comprising standards 68 on which the former56 is mounted, located at opposite sides of the apparatus and containingv notches 64 and-65 '1nwhich the former device 56 'are 'the ends of the cores'66 and 67 carrying the sheet material 62 are seated for rotation, thesenotches 'being disposed, respectively, above andbelow the plane occupied by the former 56." l

The sheet material 62, which, in the particular arrangement shown,'i s of a width considerably greater than the width of the y envelope material.

` represented at 68,

outlet end of the nozzle 55, extends from the rolls thereof into the upper and lower portions of the latter4 and into the spaces between the upper and lower walls of the forme-r and the corresponding walls of the nozzle, as shown. (Fig. 1.)

Located beyondthe former 56 are feeding means' comprising two se-ts of 69, 70 and 71, journaled .at theirendsjin frame works 72 at opposite sides of the'apparatus, these sets of rolls.v

being spaced apart lengthwise of the ap- Earatus and the rolls eing respectively .disposed above and below the formed body and he upper and lower 1e 'upper rolls, as

shown, are drive rolls having drive connection therebetween as by means of sprockets 73 and74 on the rolls anda sprocket chain 75 engaging these sprockets, driving power being applied to one of the upper rolls, as

through the medium of a belt pulley 76 on the roll 70.

The rolls 68, 69, 70and form an size, 'each preferably presenting at its ends, laterally beyond the side walls 57 of Ithe nozzle 55, circular disklike rtions 77 which are so spaced apart as to rmly grip between them the lateral edges of 'the sheet material 62 which extend laterally beyond the side walls -57 of the nozzle. The portions of the rolls intermediate the disklike portions 77, and indicated at 78, are of such reduced diameter that they are spaced apart a distance suliiciently less than the thickness of the body produced in the former 56, and comprising the mass of fibers and the superpos'edand underlying sheet material 62, to provide tractive effect; the posaitioning of the disk-like portions 77 on the rollers 68 and 69, as stated, causing the lateral edges of the sheet material 62 to be drawn together into ,flatwise engagement, at opposite sides of the formed body as represented at one side in Fig. 2, -the sheet material 62` thereby encasing the mass of fibers throughout the upper, lower, and side surfaces thereof.

Means are provided in f71, are' alike as to the apparatus of the massI of bersand the covering maf terial 62 and also for' sewing together the ad various kinds, and sewing devices i in -fllne with former 56 at the' feed rolls of each set thereof lib ous. shown -for stitching through the body formed f pads of th A description of the operation of the illus tratedy apparatus in so far as it has` bee: above described, is as follows:

Assuming a bale of fiber is introduced int the tumbler device 15, the o ration of th` suction blower 30 draws the bers, separate( from the bale `by the tumbler actidn, out ol the drum 16 and thence into the blower fron which they are discharged through the outlet 32 into the settling chamber 33 whereir any solid foreign particles or relatively eavy masses of interlocked or intertwisted ers, are caused to gravitate to the bottom of this casing. The fibers 4pass out of the casing 33 throughthe outlet 34 and thence through -the conduit 36 into the com artments presented" about the periphery o the inters itial drum 48 in which compartments the fibersxbecome deposited. By the rotation of the drum 48 the fibers in these compartments, when the latter in the rotation of the drum move to a position in which they register withthe outlet 44 of the inner shell 42, are blown, by the air-blast entering the shell 42 through the inlet 43, out of these compartments and into the nozzle 55 and thence into the former device 56 wherein the fibers become massed intoabod within the space defined by the side walls 57of the nozzle and the sheet material 62. as shown in Fig. 1. It may be here initial starting ofthe apparatus a barrier would be placed across the rea-r end of the device 56 adjacent the extremities of the walls 57 of the nozzle against which the fibers first blown into the former device would imstated that in the' lnge, in order that a body of the fiber may built up. Thereafter the feed mechanism' and the stitching and sewing mechanism eration to feed the bod composed of .t e mass of fibersl and the sheet material 62 to carry out ofthe former device and upon a table represented at 82 the assembled mass of fibers and sheet material and stitch, or tuft the same to the condition shown in Fig.. 8, the'operation. of producing the body'or structure being thereby vren ered continu- As it is necessary that t fibers into the former 56 relieved om the former 56 after depositing the fibers therein, vents are device formed pre erably in -both the top and bottom'walls of the former device,v the vent openings in the top wall' thereobein represented at 83, it .being understoodthat and preferably practically' all thereof, to

comev disposed at an angle to the -path of rovided in the former' e air escapes through the .sheet material the air currents flowing through the apparatus according to the particular embodiment herein shown, at substantially a right angle to such path, to the end that the fibers as they become massed in the former device 56. as above stated, will extend in the same direction, and approach substantial parallelism, as represented ofthe mass of shown at 8i, and constituting the body thereof which is encased within the covering material (32, whereby the body composed of the separate fibers is caused to present what might be termed a grained condition, as distinguished from a fiber body in which the fibers extend in every direction and present a chaotic condition.

'Ilie layingof the fibers in the grained condition referred. to is effected by subjecting the fibers in Atheiritravel to the former device, to a cylindrical eddying action which not only causes the fibers to become disposed at the desired angle to the path of the air currents through the apparatus, but also tends to disengage from each otherfibers which may be interlocked or intertwined; rIh@ cylindrical eddying action referred to maybe effected by interposing in the path of the air currents a relatively sharp-edge portion disposed at an angle to the path of the air currents corresponding'substantially with the angle at which it. is desired the fibers extend relative to such path, and operating to -deiiect the air currents as stated and cause the fibers to become disposed substantially parallel to such edge-portion. in practice that the best results are produced by providing a plurality of these edge portions extending into the conduit from op osite sides thereof and in staggered relation whereby successive eddying actions are produced in the travel of the air'cur' rents to the former device.

` shown is provided with means of the charthe air currents, and

acter above referredl to and of such construction and arangement that the fibers are caused to extend normal to the path of the air currents, these means being shown as located in the nozzle 55 closely adjacentthe former device 56, and'comprising fins 85 extending substantially at right angles to the upper and lower Walls of the nozzle and throughout the width Aof the latter, these fins, which are of slighly greater height than one-half the vertical cross-sectional dimension of the nozzle 55, being shown as e'quidistantly spaced and alternating with.

each other 'and preferably presenting relatively sharp cornered, substantially straight, 1

edges 86. l

I have discovered that any relatively sharp edge portion extending into the course of the air currents fiowing through the apparatus, operate, to a greater or less degree, to produce the positioning of the fibers in parzillel'to such edgebers l have found The apparatus causing portieri, as stated, and such action is effected to a noticeable degree by the inner edge portionof the valve 35, whereby the fibers are caused` to'become deposited in the com artments provided about the periphery of tie drum 48 in a condition approachin parallelism. i

Where the product of the .apparatus is to be used for thermal insulation it is desirable that the ymass produced comprise for each cubic foot thereof'approxima-tely one pound Vof the fibers and accordingly the speed at which the various mechanisms described are driven should be regulated. The measuring device described is of advantage., as thereby a uniform iiow of fibers to the former device 56 producing a uniformly dense mass of the fibers in the latter may be eected for any width or size of the body to be produced, the volume of fibers delivered to the nozzle being governed by the speed at which the drum of the measuring device is rotated.

It may be stated that kapok fibers, which are extremely light and fine, are peculiarly amenable to the treatment above set forth. However, the treatment referred to may be used advantage in the treating of other fibers 1n approximate proportions to their relative weight, the heavier and coarseu the fibers the greater the degree of refractori- 'Ill stood as intending to limit my invention thereto, as the apparatus may he variously modified 4and altered, and other a paratus employed, without departing from fire spirit of my invention.

W hat I'claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The method of causing fibers entrained in lair currents to become positioned at an angle to the liow of the air currents, which consists in producing cylindrical eddying'of the air currents in the general direction of the flow of the latter.

2." In apparatus, for the purpose set' forth, the combination of a conduit, means vfor fiber-conveying currents of ain to fiow in said conduit, and means in 'said conduit for causing the fibers in their move- `ment therein to extend at an angleto said conduit, and substantially parallel with each other.

3. In apparatus the combination of a conduit, means causing fiber-conveying currents of air to flow in said conduit, and means in said conduit for causing the fibers in their movement therein and while suspended in the air current to extend atan angle tosaid conduit.-

4. In apparatus for the purpose set forth,

for the purpose set forth, for

stantially par vthe combination of a -c onduit having a the combination of a conduit, means for causing ber-conveying currents of a'ir to ow in said conduit, andmean's in said conduit `for causing the bers in t eir movement therein to extend at an4 ang e to said conduit and s1 bstantially parellel to each other comprising means for :producing cylindrical erldying of the air-currents in the general in said conduit.

5. In apparatus for the purposeset forth; the combination of a conduit having a. former-portion, means for causing berconveying currents of air to flow in said conduit, and means in said conduit for causing lthe bers in their movement therein and lbefore reachingvthe former portion, to extend at an an le to saidr'conduit, and subaIlel with each other.

purpose set forth,

6. `In apparatus for the former-portion, means 'for' causing berconveying currents of air to ow in said causlng Jiow 1n sa1d condui said Jconduit and conduit, and baie-means in said conduit so constructed and arranged relative to said conduites to produce sucheddying of the, currexits 'as to cause the bers to extend substantially parallel with each other and in a tion at an angle to the flow of the currents through the conduit. .A p

7. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, a conduit, and means for the comblnation of -causing ber-conveying currents of air to flow `in said conduit, the inner surface of, said conduit containing baie 4means p resenti'n an edge portion extending crosswise thereo and against which the ber-conveying currents impinge, so constructed andarranged relative to said conduit'as to produce eddying-fof the air currents in the eneral direction of the flow oft-helatter t rough said conduit land cause the bersto extend substantially parallel with, eachother and in a direction at an angle 'to the -flow of the currents through the conduit.

' 8.- ln apparatus for the purpose set forth, the comb ation of a conduit, and means for` ber-conve ing currents of' air to Xt,'the'inner surface of said conduit presenting on opposed inner surfaces edge portions -staggered relative to each other `and extendin crosswise of vagainst w 'chfthe berconve ing air-currents impin 9.' n apparatus for the purpose set forth` the comblnation of ra conduit, means for causing ber-conveying currents. of airto ow in said conduit, and ribs in said conduit extndin crosswise thereof and instaggered re ation from opposedwalls thereof `and presenting relative sh edges exa '.tendin into the path of t e airlfiiurrents 10. a ste 1n the producing .of a ,bod of separate rs, the imfrovement whic consists in conveying .theres to the pointj direction of the `flow of the latter.l

of assembly b lentrainment in. air'fcurrents,

to `:form vthe ody, Aand in suchr conveying movement subjecting the air-currents to.

erection of the flow such nature as to cause the bers to extend substantially parallel. with each other and atan angle to the ow of the air`currents. 11. The method of causing kapok -bers entrained in air-currents; to become i sitioned at an angle to the flow of the air- 'currents, -which consists in producing cylindrlcal .eddying of the rair-currents inthe general ,directlon of the flow of the latter. 12. The method of producing a' body of separate bers the greater portion `of which vextendin the same general direction, which consists in entraining thel bres in an aircurrent and during the' travel. of the bers to the point of compacting causing the 'fibers .to become disposed at an angle to the aircurrents, an'd substantially parallel with each other. 13.' In apparatus for the the combination of a conduit, means for causing `ber-conveying currentsl of airto owin said conduit, and means in said conduit for causing the bres tobecome diskposed at an angle to the direction of,fiow ofthe air-currents in said conduit,l and substantially parallel with each other.

4. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, the combination of conduit, means for causing mier-conveying| curr nts of air to flow in said conduit, and me ns in said conduit for causing the bres intheir movement therein to extend conduit and substantiall parallel to-each other comprising a b e in said conduit formin with the opposing walls of said conduit a restricted passage.

15. In apparatus for the purposeset forth, the combination of a substantially straight "conduit,

currents of'air to flow in means' in said conduit in'their movement therein to extend at an angle to said conduit `and substantially parallel to each. othler comprising a deecting 'memberin said conduit located between the ,ends of the latter. i

16. The method of forming a bod composed of separate bers normallyten g to curl, which consists in subjecting them to a'r currents of such a nature as to cause the Vbers to be bent toward straightened conditionand to extend generally parallel to' each other and at an angle to the flow of the air currents and in such condition compacting them against each other in opposition to said conduit,u an

purpose set forth;A

at'anl angle to said means forcausing ber-conveym for causing the bers their tendency to return to normal conditionI I iso to a conveying current of aiir, straightening the fibers whilebeing conve ed and compact# ing the straightened ibers by the conveying to their tendency to return to normal condition. l

18; The method of causing fibers entrained in air currents to become positioned normal to the flow of'the air currents,vvhich consists in producing Acylindrical eddying of the aircurrents inthe general direction of the'flow of the latter.

19. In apparatus, lfor the purpose set forth,

lthe combination of a conduit, means for A- forth, the combination of aconduit, means'.

causing `ber-conveying current of air to flow in said conduit, and means in said conduitfor causing the fibers in their movement therein to extend substantially normal to said' conduit, and substantially paral-y lel with each other.

20. In apparatus for the purpose set for causing fiber-conveyingcurrents of air to i'low in said conduit,-and means in said conduit for causing the fibers in their movement therein and While suspended in the aircurrent to extend substantially normal to said conduit.

21. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, the combination of a. conduit, means for causing fiber-conveying currents of air to` iiow in said conduit, and means in said Lacasse air current against each other in opposltion conduit for causing the ibers in their inovement therein to extend substantially normal to said conduitandsubstantially parallel ,to

each other comprising means for producing K cylindrical eddying ot' the aircurrents in the general direction of the flow of the latter in said conduit.

22. In apparatus for the purpose set forth,

.the combination of a conduit having a for mer-portion, means for causing fiber-conveying currents of air to flow in said conduit, and means in said conduit for causing the fibers in their movement therein and before reaching the former portion, to extend substantially normal to said conduit and substantially parallelwith each other.

2 3. The method of causing kapok; fibers entrained in air-currents to become positioned normal to the flow of the air-currents,

which 'consists in producing' cylindrical eddying of. the air-currents in the general direction of the flow of thelatter. l

24. The method of producing a -body of separate fibers the greater portion of which extend in the same general direction, Which consists in entraining the fibers in an `aircurrent and during the travel of the fibers to the point of compacting causing the fibers, to become disposed normal to the air-currents and substantially parallel with each' other. HARVEY B.'LIND SAY 

